Baidu Is Launching Its Own Robots and Bizarre Smart Speaker

Welcome the Raven line.

Chinese internet search engine Baidu announced at its Baidu World Conference today the launch of its speaker, Raven H, and two robots, Raven R and Raven Q, as part of an initiative to push into the highly competitive AI market. Similar to Amazon’s Alexa, Microsoft’s Cortana, and the Google Assistant, the Raven H’s adjustable design lets its user move through their homes or workspaces.

Coming in a stack of thin, complementary colored square blocks, the smart speaker is equipped with a touch-sensitive, light-emitting LED display controller which can be detached from the base and used as a voice-powered remote for all Raven smart home devices. The device can carry out commands and tasks such as looking up information, playing music, hailing a taxi and many more. Recently, the company has struck a deal to install the device in 100 InterContinental hotel rooms in Beijing.